Oxford United are ready to hit the reset button. After a painful relegation ended their two-year stay in the Championship, midfielder and club captain Cameron Brannagan has made it clear: the U's are determined to "bounce back" to the second tier as quickly as possible.

It's been a tough pill to swallow for the squad. Brannagan, who took over the captain's armband last September after Elliott Moore's departure, admits the frustration is still raw. "It hurts a lot and has done since the day we found out," he told BBC Radio Oxford. "We want to bounce back—the frustration is massive at this moment in time."

For a player who logged 41 appearances across all competitions this season, netting six goals and adding three assists, the drop stings even more. But Brannagan isn't dwelling on the past. Instead, he's already looking ahead, knowing that League One is no walk in the park. "We played in League One for a long time, and it's not an easy league," he noted. "From the first day of pre-season, we've got to get it right."

With the summer transfer window looming, Oxford's recruitment team faces the challenge of rebuilding a squad ready for the third-tier grind. Loan players will return to their parent clubs, and changes are inevitable. But Brannagan, who is under contract, expects to be part of the core that leads the charge. "People come and go," he said. "I'm under contract, so it'll be full focus in pre-season. We want to improve, we want to be better—full focus is on next season."

For now, though, it's about taking a moment to recharge. "We probably need a bit of time to get away from it all," Brannagan admitted. "But come pre-season, it will be full focus." The message is clear: Oxford United aren't just aiming for a quick return—they're building for a bounce-back that sticks.